Hunting Thigh Weapon Holder

ABSTRACT

The weapon holder for a hunter&#39;s lap does not only provide a convenient holder for supporting a rifle, shotgun, or bow but can also support a crossbow. The weapon holder is comprised of a pair of identical mounds (Bosoms) each of which is adapted to be secured to an individual&#39;s thigh. The identical mounds temporarily maintain a weapon firmly between the cleavage of those identical mounds. The weapon holder includes a pair of identical weapon holding thigh straps that attach to a hunter&#39;s thigh while the hunter is in a sitting position. The weapon holder allows for the liberation of the hunter&#39;s hands while at the same time keeping the weapon in a readily accessible position when game appears. The weapon can be quickly and quietly removed for firing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/687,108, filed on Apr. 18, 2012

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the technical field of hunting equipment. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of weapon holding devices. Even more particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of weapon holding devices attached to a hunter's thigh.

Description of Related Art

The related art of interest describes various weapon holders, but none discloses the present invention. Hunters use various hunting stands in the bush. Some are ladder stands and some are climbing stands. Many hunters use a five gallon bucket to sit on. In all these types of sitting arrangements one thing is the same, the hunter sits with his knees lower then his hips. While sitting in this way a weapon such as a rifle, shotgun, bow, or crossbow has a tendency to want to slide off the hunter's lap. If the hunter falls asleep the weapon could fall and discharge. Just as problematic is the top heavy weight of a crossbow.

Crossbows by their vary nature are top heavy. The head of a crossbow far outweighs the butt of the stock. This differential of weight and the problem with the weapon sliding causes the hunter to always keep one hand on the weapon for fear of it toppling. Without the liberation of both of the hunter's hands the simplest of tasks become difficult.

Therefore there is a need for a device for the hunters to secure their weapon across their lap and thigh while at the same time liberating their hands from having to keep the weapon steady on their lap. Furthermore the device allows the position of the weapon to be quickly and quietly accessible when game appears.

Discussion of the art will address the perceived relevance to the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No 6,375,052 issued on Apr. 23, 2002 to Fred B. Keton describes a weapon holding device comprising nylon straps. Each strap is formed by a weapon retainer strap and a leg strap. Both straps are in a cruciform formation. The ends of each nylon strap have a hook and loop material attached thereto. The leg strap is wrapped around the hunter's leg and the retainer strap is around the weapon. This device frees the hands of the hunter.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,910 issued on Jul. 31, 2001 to Ray L. Norine describes a weapon holder device comprised of a pair of identical assemblies each adapted to secure to a hunter's thighs. These assemblies provide for a hook and shank portion defining an opening, where a weapon can be supported freeing the hunter's hands to perform other tasks. The weapon is still positioned so that it is readily accessible when game suddenly appears.

Various prior art weapon holding devices have been developed. However most of such devices are not designed to hold a crossbow. For example U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,052 issued to Keton uses a hook and loop system (Velcro) to loop and secure the weapon. A hunter never places his hands inside the limbs of a cocked crossbow for fear it may discharge and sever the hunter's fingers or hands. To use the above named invention a hunter needs to manipulate the device where the hands must be placed between the limbs putting them in harms way. He further must remove the strapping around the weapon once game appears again placing the hands between the limbs of a cocked crossbow. Also the noise associated with a hook and loop system when removed could scare game away.

Another example U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,910 issued to Norine uses a hook and shank portion defining an opening where a weapon can be supported. A cocked crossbow can not be placed in the weapon holder because the limb assembly when cocked would get in the way of the hook and shank. None of the above inventions and patents taken either in combination or singly are seen to describe the instant invention. This and other objects and advantages will become readily apparent upon reading the description and viewing the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a weapon holding device for a firearm, bow or crossbow. The device allows the hunter to secure a weapon across his lap while being in a sitting position. The front of the weapon is securely placed between the “cleavage’ of two foam mounds (Bosoms) which are attached by straps to the hunter's thigh. The device allows a hunter's hands to be liberated while at the same time keeping the position of the weapon readily accessible.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a weapons holder which can accommodate not only a firearm, and bow, but also a crossbow. It is another object of the invention to provide a weapons holder whereby the weapon is held securely in a hunter's lap while at the same time being in a position where it is quickly, quietly, and readily accessible.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a weapons holder whereby a hunter's hands are liberated from constantly having to hold onto the weapon. These and other aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon review of the appended , drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental front perspective view of a hunter holding his weapon, e.g., crossbow shown in shadow, on his lap placed between the cleavage of the weapon holder of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the weapon holder according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the weapon holder attached to a hunter's thigh according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the weapon holder according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 as a weapon holder for a hunter's lap, the device 10 including a pair of identical weapon holding thigh straps 12 for the hunter's thigh 14 to temporarily hold a weapon 16 (shown in shadow as a crossbow, although the device 10 may also be used to hold a shotgun, rifle, or bow) on the hunter's lap 18. The front of the weapon 16 is placed firmly between the cleavage 20 of the identical mounds 22 of the device 10 while the hunter is in a sitting position. Thus with the device 10 of the present invention allows for the liberation of the hunter's hands. The weapon 16 is still in a readily accessible position when game appears and can be quickly and quietly removed from the cleavage 20 of the identical mounds 22 of the device 10. The hunter's hands can also rest on the hunter's lap 18 keeping them warm and fatigue free.

In more detail as shown in FIG. 2 the weapon holder thigh straps 12 of the device 10 are comprised of a pair of identical assemblies and are made from an elongated nylon webbing material or other suitable flexible material. The weapon holder thigh straps 12 are coupled to the foam through the anchors points 26, 28, 30, and 32 of the device 10 and form a continuous loop when placed through the securing apparatuses 24. Anchors points 30 and 32 are hidden. The securing apparatuses 24 are made of metal, hard resin, or other suitable material. Additionally the securing apparatus 24 are coupled onto one end of each of the nylon weapon holder thigh straps 12 of the device 10. These two securing apparatuses 24 receive the loose ends of the weapon holder thigh straps 12 of the device 10. When tightened this union forms a tight secure bond between the device 10 and the hunter's thigh 14.

In further detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 the device 10 is sufficiently wide and long enough for a comfortable fit on a hunter's thigh 14. The weapon holder thigh straps 12 of the device 10 are sufficient in length to accommodate various sizes of a hunter's thigh 14. The foam anchor points, 26, 28, 30, and 32 are sufficiently large enough to increase the stability of the device 10 while attached to the hunter's thigh 14 by the nylon weapon holder thigh straps 12. Anchors points 30 and 32 are hidden. The identical mounds 22 of the device 10 are sufficiently tall enough to hold a weapon 16 (shown in shadow as a crossbow, although the device 10 may also be used to hold a shotgun, rifle, or bow). The cleavage 20 of the identical mounds 22 of the present device 10 is sufficiently deep and wide enough to temporarily maintain and hold the front of a weapon 16 (shown in shadow as a crossbow, although the device 10 may also be used to hold a shotgun, rifle, or bow).

The construction details of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are that the device 10 of the present invention may be made of expanding foam or of any other sufficiently semi rigid material. The weapon holder thigh straps 12 of the present device 10 may be made of nylon webbing material or other suitable flexible material or cloth. The securing apparatuses 24 of the device 10 may be made of a hard resin or other suitable material such as, but not limited to rigid high-strength plastic, metal, and the like. Further, the various components of the device 10 of the present invention can be made of different materials.

Referring now to the invention shown in FIG. 4 there is a weapon holder device for a hunter's lap 10 having foam anchor points, 26, 28, 30, and 32. The weapon holder thigh straps 12 of the device 10 are comprised of a pair of identical assemblies and are made from an elongated nylon webbing material or other suitable flexible material. The weapon holder thigh straps 12 are imbedded through the foam anchors points 26, 28, 30, and 32 of the device 10 and form a continuous loop when placed through the securing apparatuses 24. The securing apparatuses 24 of the present device 10 are made of metal, hard resin, or other suitable material. Additionally the securing apparatuses 24 are coupled onto one end of each of the nylon weapon holder thigh straps 12 of the device 10.

A preferred means of the securing apparatuses 24 is but not limited to include cam buckles, cinching buckles, snaps, hook and loop, and clasps, other means for the securing apparatus could be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, a weapon holding device for not only a rifle, shotgun, or bow, but also for a crossbow. The device allows the hunter to secure a weapon across his lap while being in a sitting position. The weapon holder of the present invention thus provides a convenient, readily accessible location where a hunter can place his weapon thereby liberating his hands. The weapon is kept in a readily accessible position and can be quickly and quietly removed when game appears.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for temporarily securing a weapon to a hunter's thigh, said device comprising: means to secure said device to said hunter's thigh; and a supporting configuration forming a cleavage to support a rifle stock, a shotgun stock, a crossbow stock, and a bow limb.
 2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means to secure further comprises: a pair of thigh straps for attachment to said hunter's thigh, each strap having: (a) An elongated, flexible, thigh strap being coupled to said device by glue, weld, magnets, mechanical inter locks, snaps, rivets, threaded fasteners, sewn, pressure embedded, defining a short end and a long end; and (b) Said means to secure said thigh strap to said hunter's thigh, said means to secure being but not limited to cam buckles, cinching buckles, claps, fasteners, hasps, and hook and loop material.
 3. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein thigh straps are made from suitable material such as but not limited to nylon webbing, rope, string, cord, rubber, leather.
 4. The device as recited in claim 2, having said thigh strap with said cam buckle for temporarily wrapping around said hunter's thigh and placing said thigh strap through said cam buckles with diameter continuously adjustable to diameter of the hunter's thigh.
 5. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein said cam buckle is coupled to said short end of said thigh strap wherein said long end of said thigh strap can go through.
 6. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein said cam buckle is coupled to said thigh strap by glue, weld, magnets, mechanical inter locks, snaps, rivets, threaded fasteners, sewn, adjacent said long end of said thigh strap, said thigh strap is wrapped around said hunter's thigh and fastened into said cam buckles with a continuously adjustable diameter to adjust to said hunter's thigh.
 7. The weapon holder devise as recited in claim 1, having said supporting configuration such as but not limited to mounds, ovals, spheres, rectangular prisms, triangular prisms, cubes, square base pyramids, cones, cylinders, triangular based pyramids, forming said cleavage to support said rifle stock, said shotgun stock, said crossbow stock, and said bow limb.
 8. The weapon holder device as recited in claim 1, wherein said supporting configuration is made of suitable resilient flexible material such as but not limited to foam, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, latex, foam rubber, plastic, Styrofoam, silicone, neoprene. 